CALLBOARD. May July at Higgins Lake 2014 Master Classes finalized. Helping Community Theatre thrive in Michigan since 1951.

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1 Community Theatre Association of Michigan CALLBOARD May 2014 July at Higgins Lake 2014 Master Classes finalized T his of awards. summer, CTAM will present two new master classes during the weekend of July They deal with topics suggested by some of our members: Accents and Dialects, and Playwriting. Arnold (Arnie) Johnston, the former head of WMU s English Department and active participant in theatre in the Kalamazoo area, will conduct Speak the Speech: A Workshop in Dialects and Accents. He is an accomplished actor-singer, having performed over 100 roles on stage, screen, and radio. He has also conducted individual dialect coaching and group workshops in a range of accents. The class will cover various American, English, Irish, and Scottish dialects as well as a variety of European accents such as French, German, and Italian. Participants will be working with scenes from specific plays which frequently appear on community theatre schedules. This will be a valuable class for both actors and directors. Award-winning playwright Jim Henry will present Write the Words: A Class in Playwriting. Jim is from the Chicago area and is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists, and Literary Manager at Chicago Street Theatre. His first play, Angels of Lemnos, won Chicago s Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work and ran for five months in Los Angeles, receiving an L.A. Times Critic s Choice award. He has written several more plays, receiving a number Last year his play, Jellofish, was selected as one of five winners in the AACTNewPlayFest, and last month a production of his Brother of All premiered at the Detroit Repertory Theatre. Jim s class will be an interactive course where you not only learn the fundamentals of playwriting, but actually get to do some writing. The class will culminate with each participant actually writing a short play which will be read and discussed in a friendly and encouraging manner by the participants. (So plan to bring your computer!) This class is great for the beginner who is curious about the playwriting process, as well as for the veteran who is looking for a brush-up on vital techniques. The master classes will be held at the Ralph A. MacMullen Conference Center at Higgins Lake. The fee for the class is $65 for Individual CTAM members and $75 non -members (even if your group is a member). Lodging for two nights and five meals is $228 per person for a single room and $188 per person for a room shared with one other person. Classes begin after dinner on Friday, continue all day and evening on Saturday, and conclude on Sunday morning. More details on the MacMullen Center will be included in next month s Callboard. Helping Community Theatre thrive in Michigan since 1951.

2012-2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President - Mary Lou Britton Grosse Pointe Theatre mellbee@earthlink.net Vice President - Michael Schacherbauer Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing mikie72252@yahoo.

2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President - Mary Lou Britton Grosse Pointe Theatre mellbee@earthlink.net Vice President - Michael Schacherbauer Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing mikie72252@yahoo.com Secretary - David Wahr Monroe Community Players dwahr@cass.net Treasurer - Christy Frick Gratiot County Players cfrick9898@charter.net At-Large Members of the Board Bill Anderson, Jr.... billandersonjr@gmail.com Center Stage, Midland Joanne Berry... jmberryjm@aol.com Bay City Players Kristen Chesak... kchesak@kazoocivic.com Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Jill Patchin... jillpatchin@gmail.com Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Tracy Tiffany...tracytiff@comcast.net Twin City Players, St. Joseph Executive Secretary Nancy Peska... peska@cmsinter.net Gratiot County Players The Prez Sez We ve all just returned from a fabulous Spring Conference in Bay City the last weekend in April! What a great weekend and a great opportunity to meet new Michigan theatrelovers. Bay City Players did a wonderful job of planning for the conference and lining up splendid workshop leaders! The people were buzzing about each and every workshop...if you learned just one valuable tip or piece of information, then your registration fee was well worth it. I always feel that way about CTAM educational opportunities. Where else can you learn so much and have so much fun at the same time? The July Master Classes are another opportunity! Jumping around the education continuum, this year we re writing plays and perfecting our dialects! How much more far-ranging can you get? Mark your calendar and plan to join us for a relaxing summer weekend at Higgins Lake! For Mother s Day, give yourself a gift of learning and it will last you for years to come! Mary Lou Britton Callboard Staff Editor... Mary Lou Britton Contributors... Members of the Board This is the official newsletter of the Community Theatre Association of Michigan, issued monthly to all group and individual members with addresses on record. Distribution is by with a link to the newsletter on the association website. Back issues are available on the association website at Correspondence to the Callboard should be sent to the Editor at mellbee@earthlink.net. Affiliated with American Association of Community Theatre Productions and dates should be sent to the Editor. Short informational articles are accepted and will be used on a space-available basis. Show photos should be carefully selected and sent to the Editor, along with identifying caption and permission from photographer for us to publish said photo.. Updated and postal addresses are maintained by the Executive Secretary Nancy Peska and should be sent to her at peska@cmsinter.net. 2 May 15, 2014 July 1, 2014 July 18-20, 2014 July 20, 2014 Sept , 2014 Nov , 2014 March 27-29, 2015 April 16-19, 2015 June 22-28, 2015 CTAM Calendar Submission deadline for CTAM Playwriting Contest Deadline for Nominating Committee submissions and Award Committee nominations Master Classes at MacMullen Center, Higgins Lake CTAM Board Meeting MacMullen Center, Higgins Lake 2014 CTAM Fall Conference McGuire s Resort, Cadillac The Leadership Conference, hosted by Old Town Playhouse, Traverse City State AACTFest Hosted by Owosso Players Region III AACTFest Hosted by Midland Center Stage National AACTFest Hosted by Grand Rapids Civic

3 The dining room at McGuire s Resort. It looks like a painted backdrop...it isn t! September Fall Conference workshops announced We have more workshops to announce for the Fall Conference Caught in the Act, Legally Clueless. We will have workshops for Directors, Actors, Techies, and Board of Directors! So far, we ve lined up the following workshops for you: Big Shows, Small Stage with Leeds Bird; Cleaning and storing of costumes, wigs and makeup with Joy Butler; Techniques of learning lines with Betsy Willis; Jill Patchin is hosting a workshop on planning special events; Dave Wahr is offering a workshop on Shakespeare, both from the acting and directing points of view. Other workshops we are working on are: Props with Michael Wilson; Insurance Liability with Roger Allman, and Chris Allman. We have a couple more that we are looking at, but not ready to announce yet. Keep watching future issues of the Callboard and our website for more information. We look forward to seeing you September 26th thru the 28th at McGuire s Resort in Cadillac, so make sure your calendars are marked! 3 The top ten reasons to enter AACTfest next year! With apologies to David Letterman, here are the top ten reasons to consider entering the 2015 Michigan AACTfest in February 2015: 10. Theaters that go to festivals typically get enthusiastic support from their community. Promote to your community that you are representing them in a state/regional level event. They love it! 9. It can be a terrific fund-raising and profile-raising opportunity. 8. Fire up the imagination and interest of your group - get everyone thinking in new directions. 7. See some of the best theater around. Get great ideas for next season. 6. Meet terrific people who are doing excellent theater 5. Inspire yourself and your group that gets everyone reaching for the next level. 4. It brings prestige, publicity, excitement. The media loves to cover a winner! 3. Awards from Festivals can help with grants and donations. 2. Theaters that take honors at festivals get support from their communities and audiences. 1. The great shows, terrific people and great parties make Festivals a habit - forming experience. There are a hundred good reasons why 40 years of festivals have spread to 43 states, with thousands of productions. All three levels of competition (state, regional and national!) will be in Michigan next year, so it s a good year to enter (because travel expenses will be minimal) and you, personally, can see all the levels whether your group enters or not.

July 1 deadline Time for 2014 Awards As your seasons start to draw to a close, think of the number of people who have volunteered to help with each show and the number of volunteer hours that have

4 July 1 deadline Time for 2014 Awards As your seasons start to draw to a close, think of the number of people who have volunteered to help with each show and the number of volunteer hours that have been put in. Why not honor those who have volunteered over and over with recognition from the Community Theatre Association of Michigan? Consider nominating them for one of the awards presented by CTAM. Read over the criteria below and, if you have a volunteer that fits, then send in a nomination form you can find on the CTAM website. Dorothy Arnett Volunteer Service Award This award offers an opportunity for your group to have CTAM recognize a volunteer in your group for their long-term service. The Dorothy Arnett Volunteer Service Award is presented by CTAM to those individuals [as recommended by you] who have given valuable, long-term service to your theatre organization. Each year any CTAM member group is allowed to recommend an individual or couple who has Terry Jolink given valuable and significant service to their local group for at least ten years. CTAM will consider all valid nominations and is allowed to grant up to six such awards per year. The deadline for submitting nominations is July 1. Nominations postmarked after that date will not be considered A member of your local group may be nominated by your group's president, by your group' Board of Directors, or by ten current members of your local group Robert A. McKenna Award The McKenna Award is CTAM s most prestigious award. It was established in 1987 to honor Robert A. McKenna a longtime CTAM friend, supporter and actor in Michigan who epitomized the spirit of community theatre. The McKenna is given annually at our fall conference to a living person who exhibits, through 4 action, commitment and dedication, his or her support of community theatre on the state and local level. A nomination may be submitted for the Board s consideration by any current CTAM group member or current CTAM associate member. There is no official nomination form; however, in submitting your nomination, it is very important to include all of the following information. List of the nominee's work and contributions on the state level; List of the nominee's work and contributions on the local level; and A narrative in which you present your most compelling arguments in support of your nominee. Do not merely repeat his or her contributions, but rather, address how the nominee, "epitomizes the spirit of community theatre" in Michigan. Nomination must be postmarked by July 1st to be considered. Completed nomination forms should be sent to: Mr. Terry Jolink 3768 Socorro SE Grandville, MI (Ed Note: Mr. Jolink, incidentally, received the 2013 Volunteer Spirit Award from the CTAM Board of Directors, belatedly presented at the recent Spring Conference in Bay City. It was awarded for his many years of service to CTAM and the several member groups with whom Terry has been affiliated. Congratulations to Terry on receiving this well-deserved honor!) Date announced for 2015 AACTfest! It s official! Owosso Players will host the Michigan AACTfest. March 27, 28 and 29, 2015

5 Who s doing what around Michigan! Muskegon Civic Theatre Legally Blonde, the Musical May 1-4, 2014 Clarkston Village Players Attempted Murderof Peggy Sweetwater May 2-17, 2014 Clio Cast and Crew Joseph/Dreamcoat May 2-18, 2014 Old Town Playhouse, Traverse City Steel Magnolias May 2-17, 2014 Players Guild of Dearborn Kiss Me, Kate May 2-25, 2014 Ridgedale Players, Troy Drop Dead May 2-18, 2014 Southgate Community Players Sweeney Todd May 2-10, 2014 Village Players of Birmingham Kiss Me, Kate May 2-18, 2014 Grosse Pointe Theatre Les Miserables May 4-25, 2014 Alpena Civic Theatre On Borrowed Time May 8-18, 2014 Barn Swallow Theatre, Cassopolis Old Time Radio May 9-18, 2014 Center Stage Theatre, Midland The Dixie Swim Club May 9-18, 2014 Central Park Players, Grand Haven Anne of Green Gables May 9-17, 2014 Community Theatre of Howell You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown* May 9-18, 2014 Gratiot County Players Evita May 9-18, 2014 Hartland Players Rowan and Martin's Laugh In May 9-18, 2014 Owosso Community Players Lend Me A Tenor May 9-18, 2014 Phoenix Players, Brighton Just So Stories* May 9-17, 2014 Pit & Balcony, Saginaw Spring Awakening May 9-18, 2014 Tawas Bay Players Women of Lockerbie May 9-18, 2014 Wyandotte Community Theatre Bingo! The Winning Musical May 9-17, 2014 Lapeer Community Theatre Pride and Prejudice May 16-24, 2014 Monroe Community Players The Sound of Music May 16-18, 2014 Grand Rapids Civic Theatre 9 to 5, The Musical May 30-June 15, 2014 Heart of the Hills Players 42nd Street June 4-7, 2014 Old Town Playhouse, Traverse City Leaving Iowa June 5-14, 2014 Cadillac Footlighters 9 to 5, The Musical June 6-14, 2014 Stagecrafters, Royal Oak The Wizard of Oz June 6-22, 2014 Twin City Players, St. Joseph The King and I June 6-29, 2014 Barn Swallow Theatre, Cassopolis Always Patsy Cline June 12-15, 2014 Center Stage Theatre, Midland The Little Mermaid* June 12-15, 2014 Master Arts, Grand Rapids The Great Divorce June 19-22, 2014 Village Players of Birmingham Willie Wonka, Jr.* June 19-22, 2014 Center Stage, Jackson Joseph/Dreamcoat June 20-29, 2014 Manistee Civic Players My Fair Lady Jun 27-July Ridgedale Players, Troy Annie, Get Your Gun* June 27-29, 2014 Holland Civic Theatre Charlotte's Web* July 10-14, 2014 Tawas Bay Players USO Musical Revue July 11-20, 2014 Twin City Players, St. Joseph The Crucible* July 11-20, 2014 * indicates youth productions; ** indicates second stage productions, if submitted. Please be sure to fill out your Dues Renewal Form completely, as that is the source for this information on shows! If your information is incorrect or missing, please send the correct information to The Editor to be corrected or included in the next issue. This list is also available on the CTAM website. 5

November 14-16, 2014 CTAM Theatre Leadership Conference (TLC) Hits and misses! How to get butts in seats! The changing face of community theatre! Social marketing that really works!

We hope to see all of the 2012 attendees plus many more new faces. We have revamped the conference to be more inclusive of all interested theatre leaders.

6 November 14-16, 2014 CTAM Theatre Leadership Conference (TLC) Hits and misses! How to get butts in seats! The changing face of community theatre! Social marketing that really works! Fundraising ideas for your Board! Does this sound like information you could use? CTAM is bringing back the bi-annual Theatre Leadership Conference (TLC), hosted by Old Town Playhouse, Traverse City. We hope to see all of the 2012 attendees plus many more new faces. We have revamped the conference to be more inclusive of all interested theatre leaders. And AACT s Field Service Director Ron Ziegler has agreed to be our moderator once again It s not a coincidence that the acronym is TLC because CTAM Ron Ziegler has designed this conference to provide Tender Loving Care for our important Michigan theatre leaders. You will go home tired on Sunday afternoon, but you will also be exhilarated and re-charged. The purpose: To form a network of community theatre leaders, both paid and volunteer; To learn from each other s successes and tribulations; To provide a forum where you can share your thoughts with like-minded people; and To improve your leadership skills. Here is how it works: If your organization has a paid staff, your Executive or Managing Director is invited to attend and fully participate. It is not recommended that you mix paid staff and volunteer directors from an organization. If you have no paid staff, one or more of your Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary) is asked to fully participate 6 Fully participate means that these individuals will be asked in advance what topics (such as those mentioned above) are most important to their organization. They will engage in four sessions, moderated by AACT s Ron Zeigler to discuss the selected topics. Anyone else may pay a separate registration to come to the event and be a part of the audience but will not be allowed to speak during the sessions unless Ron makes an exception. Because of the change in the structure, we are working to change the registration fees to encourage more leaders to attend and participate. Watch the next Callboard for specific details or get them at the Spring Conference in Bay City. The weekend begins Friday night with a get acquainted reception and the opportunity to attend Old Town Playhouse s Studio production of On the Verge. All day Saturday and again on Sunday morning there will be a total of four sessions covering a variety of subjects. Each group participating will receive copies of all information discussed. Lunch on Saturday and Sunday will be provided as part of the fee as will refreshments during the sessions. There will be an opportunity on Saturday evening to enjoy one of the many wonderful restaurants in Traverse City before returning for the evening session. Accommodations are expected to be at the Park Place Hotel in downtown Traverse City. Registration forms will be available online soon, but in the mean time, mark your calendars for this exciting leadership event. Some of the 2012 TLC attendees, hard at work. This conference is a great opportunity to see how other groups address their problems!

Membership News by Bill Anderson Happy Spring! It's finally looking as though a long and dreary winter in Michigan is now on it's last leg and we can look forward to spring.

7 Membership News by Bill Anderson Happy Spring! It's finally looking as though a long and dreary winter in Michigan is now on it's last leg and we can look forward to spring. A time of new beginnings and, we are happy to report, a new member group to CTAM. Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing has now rejoined CTAM after a long hiatus and we just wanted to say "Welcome Back!" Riverwalk Theatre is currently in their 25th season and will be performing the musical classic Godspell May 29-June 8 in Downtown Lansing. Check out their website for upcoming auditions and their newly announced Season 26! As always, thank you to all of our members for your continued membership and participation in the Community Theatre Association of Michigan. We strive to create a strong network of artists and theatre-lovers and we couldn't do it without you! Let me know when you hear about a new or lapsed theatre group and I ll get in touch with them to renew their membership, as Riverwalk Theatre did! CTAM Wants Your Feedback CTAM is looking for your feedback to help ensure that we are providing effective support, education and communic a t i o n w i t h your community theatre..and to you as an individual. By completing the form at the link below, you are letting us know how we can better serve you. Even better yet, you will also be entered into a drawing to win Two FREE REGISTRA- TIONS to the 2014 CTAM Fall Conference in Cadillac. Whether you're a member or not, we want your feedback! To take the survey, click this link: How to get that sale after saying No to the customer by Ed Gagnon, excerpted from Ticketing Today on 3/17/2014 You want the ticket sale, but you just can t get your customer the exact seat they want or the price they re looking for or the extra perk they request. But you still want to sell a ticket. If a customer makes a request you cannot fulfill, you have to first figure out the right way to say no before you push the sale forward. It is fine to deny a customer s request, but you want to tell them in such a way that the conversation is not going to end before you get them to buy that ticket! So, how do you do this? Here are the key steps: Start with empathy: When you respond to a request with empathy, you are still saying no, but you are showing your customer that you wish you could have said yes instead. From a tone perspective, there is a big difference between saying, unfortunately, we can t and we can t. Explain why something can t be done: Some people can better accept being denied if they understand the rationale for the response. Help them know the specific, objective reason why you cannot fulfill their request when you speak with them. Quickly transition away from their specific request: Unless you want to repeatedly deny them, you want to quickly steer the conversation away from their specific request. If you don t know exactly why they re making the request, say something like, If you help me understand what you re looking for, maybe there are other options I can suggest. This reiterates the notion that you cannot do exactly what they want but demonstrates you are willing to work with them to find a comparable alternative. Offer an alternative: It is very important to be patient through the first three steps before you suggest an alternative. Too often, we get stuck on the denial or jump straight to the alternative. If we do that too quickly, often the customer is still upset about being shot down. Further, if you don t know their specific situation or goal, your alternative might not make sense. Say something like, what we can do for you is but only after you have gone through the above steps.

8 Photos by Kurt Miller A huge bucket full of thanks to the Madame Chair Joanne Berry for a wonderful 2014 Spring Conference! It was a wonderful event, well planned, very educational, and lots of fun. Your volunteers are the greatest and made every step of the weekend run smoothly! Thanks again for your hard work for CTAM. 6

CALLBOARD. August Don t forget to bring your 50s garb for the Sock Hop on Saturday night!

CALLBOARD. August Don t forget to bring your 50s garb for the Sock Hop on Saturday night! Community Theatre Association of Michigan CALLBOARD August 2017 Fall Conference not to be missed this year; something for everyone! Special treat for musical performers at Fall Conference You will want